Rescuers of Jews
Žvironas Antanas
About Jokubas Zirnauskas
Remigija Bukaveckiene's Memoirs
Jokubas Zirnauskas was born on October 18, 1906 in Ukmerge, in teacher's family. During the I-st World war all the family withdrew to Odessa.
The aging Zirnauskas still dreamed about the blossoming chestnuts trees of Odessa.
In Odessa Zirnauskas completed the pro-gymnasium studies.
After the war the family returned to Ukmerge. Zirnauskas has studied alone and later passed the extern school-leaving exams in front of the examining board of the Ministry of Education.
He did the compulsory military service in the army of independent Lithuania. Zirnauskas worked there as a scribe supervisor – he taught the illiteral soldiers (there were many at this time) because he had a nice hand-writing and knew the Lithuanian language excellently.
Zirnauskas studied chemistry in Kaunas, in the Vytautas Magnus University, the joined Department of Natural sciences and Mathematics. In 1940 this department was transferred to Vilnius University, and then Zirnauskas moved there for the last year of his studies. In 1941 he received the Diploma of Vilnius University. Matulis, the supervisor of Zirnauskas' graduation project, gave his high appreciation of the work, and the project was published. Professor A. Zvironas, the physicist, noticed Zirnauskas as a young perspective scientist in the field of physical chemistry.
In fall 1941 A. Zvironas with the help of priest J. Stakauskas has organized the shelter for Zirnauskas at some farmer in Trakai region.
Zirnauskas survived Holocaust hiding under the hay in the farmer's barn during all the Nazi occupation period. At this hiding time he has learned excellent French.
After the war this farmer was exiled to Siberia as "kulak" (Ref. 1, 2). Zirnauskas supported him financially all the years till the farmer returned from his exile and moved to Poland.
In September 1944 Zirnauskas returned to the Faculty of Chemistry of Vilnius University. He worked in the Physical Chemistry department ruled by prof. J. Matulis.
Zirnauskas created an original electrochemical lab containing the electronic equipment. He lectured the two disciplines: the chemistry of colloids and electrochemistry. Till the spring of 1952 while working at this place Zirnauskas has prepared and defended his PhD thesis. At the same time he collected a group of students interested in science and active in electrochemical research. On Sundays they worked in the lab and after discussed their results. It was a kind of "mini-conference" – discussion at the tea-table with tea boiled in the lab and snacks. At first, the students were a little bit shy but soon they got used to the calm and respectful Zirnauskas' speaking manner, were surprised by his knowledge of the world literature, liked his sense of humor and chemical anecdotes that he told.
Prof. J. Matulis left his working place and went to Academy of Sciences. The Department of Physical chemistry (as the total Faculty) became involved in politics. Zirnauskas was devoted to the science and avoided politics. He was fired in 1952 with the accusation of "communicating with abroad". He received a parcel and exchanged letters with his sisters living in Israel. They were his only alive relatives. All his family was killed in Holocaust. Especially he missed his elder brother, a physicist, who has studied in Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University and after he taught in gymnasium in Ukmerge.
From September 1952 Zirnauskas started to work in LVA (Lithuanian Vet Academy) in the department of Physics and Chemistry. Associated professor Sinkunas was the head of this department. He knew Jokubas Zirnauskas and his perished brother from the time of studies in Vytautas Magnus University.
In 1953 the separate Department of Chemistry was established and Zirnauskas has been elected the head of the Department. He organized the department activities basically – starting from lab tables, general and scientific equipment, partially purchasing it by himself. He created a new lab of general chemistry, lectured the courses of general & inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry as well. Zirnauskas was continuously active in the scientific research, – most of all, in electrochemistry, including electro-analytical chemistry.
Zirnauskas was interested in natural philosophy, used to write popular articles published in the magazines "Znanije-sila"("Knowledge is a Force"), “Priroda” (“Nature”).
He arranged seminars of chemistry and literature readings once a week in the Department he ruled. He knew 7 languages: English, German, French, Yiddish, Russian, Polish, and Lithuanian. He usually corrected the expressions written by his Lithuanian colleagues in their native language.
Zirnauskas knew the world literature very well. The readings he arranged in the department were carried out in original language of the fiction books. English authors he read were: Setton-Tompson, Bernard Shaw, and Mark Twain. French authors: Anatole France and Beranger. The most successful seminars were these devoted to Goethe's "Faustus". The readings were performed in German, as well as Zirnauskas' comments, and lasted the total studying year.
On the certain week days there were seminars on various subjects of chemistry. The highest Zirnauskas' appreciation of a person was his saying: "It's interesting to discuss chemistry with him". Only few people have earned this characteristic.
As a person, Zirnauskas was a cosmopolite – in the good meaning of the word. He usually admired the beauty of human creations, without any prepossession or prejudgment. At the times, still so close to Holocaust, Zirnauskas used to say that the German language is the most suitable to be the science language.
Every day Zirnauskas attended the Department at 8 A.M. – one hour before the usual working hours. He was always dressed carefully. It's surprising how in these years he could find his time and attention for the clothes.
He spoke always by quiet, not a raised voice, respectfully to any student or colleague.
In the lab Zirnauskas was demanding. He appreciated the students' self-sufficiency and attentive approach to experiments.
It was interesting to work in this department but not easy. The head of department, never allowing himself any weakness or disease, expected the same from the colleagues and not always understood the reality.
LVA authorities sometimes abused him exercising his extreme dutifulness. For example, each summer he has been appointed as the chairman of the accession board. Everybody was on holydays, and Zirnauskas alone did the entire job – the administration, the preparation to the entrance exams and finally he examined.
So, he never left Kaunas for holydays.
Zirnauskas had his own point on the mode of life. He himself used to order and clean his three-room apartment. Each morning he washed one window-glass in turn, therefore all the windows always were clean. Each room contained the bookshelves and a working table. There were sofas in two rooms. The largest and nicest room was arranged for his rescuer priest Stakauskas who went to Kaunas once a week to lecture in the priests' seminary.
Zirnauskas, the excellent expert of the world literature, the person understanding the philosophy of historical windings, had a very poor knowledge about the real life.
He had his own theory about the health-care based on his favourite Moliere. He often citated Moliere, mostly – the "Imaginary invalid".
However, when he felt not good and had to appeal to medicine professionals he did it in the most unacceptable way. He told nothing to anybody from his friends or colleagues, called ambulance and was hospitalized. Unfortunately, he received not proper treatment of his hypertension, due to being alone, without any protection or compassion, having no visitors. After some injection he experienced an immediate stroke. Only then his former co-workers and friends (including several physicians) learned about his hospitalization.
The last week before going to hospital Zirnauskas wrote his testament. He divided his belongings to his friends and co-workers, left the largest financial savings to his rescuers – priest Stakauskas and prof. Zvironas' family.
Zirnauskas died on January 27, 1970 in the "Red Cross" hospital in Kaunas. He is buried in the Kaunas Jewish cemetery in Aleksotas.
References:
1. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kulak
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulak
These memoirs have been written on October 24, 2006 (in a hurry) by Zirnauskas' former student in VU and after – his co-worker in LVA Remigija Bukaveckienė.
Remigija Bukaveckiene's Memoirs
Jokubas Zirnauskas was born on October 18, 1906 in Ukmerge, in teacher's family. During the I-st World war all the family withdrew to Odessa.
The aging Zirnauskas still dreamed about the blossoming chestnuts trees of Odessa.
In Odessa Zirnauskas completed the pro-gymnasium studies.
After the war the family returned to Ukmerge. Zirnauskas has studied alone and later passed the extern school-leaving exams in front of the examining board of the Ministry of Education.
He did the compulsory military service in the army of independent Lithuania. Zirnauskas worked there as a scribe supervisor – he taught the illiteral soldiers (there were many at this time) because he had a nice hand-writing and knew the Lithuanian language excellently.
Zirnauskas studied chemistry in Kaunas, in the Vytautas Magnus University, the joined Department of Natural sciences and Mathematics. In 1940 this department was transferred to Vilnius University, and then Zirnauskas moved there for the last year of his studies. In 1941 he received the Diploma of Vilnius University. Matulis, the supervisor of Zirnauskas' graduation project, gave his high appreciation of the work, and the project was published. Professor A. Zvironas, the physicist, noticed Zirnauskas as a young perspective scientist in the field of physical chemistry.
In fall 1941 A. Zvironas with the help of priest J. Stakauskas has organized the shelter for Zirnauskas at some farmer in Trakai region.
Zirnauskas survived Holocaust hiding under the hay in the farmer's barn during all the Nazi occupation period. At this hiding time he has learned excellent French.
After the war this farmer was exiled to Siberia as "kulak" (Ref. 1, 2). Zirnauskas supported him financially all the years till the farmer returned from his exile and moved to Poland.
In September 1944 Zirnauskas returned to the Faculty of Chemistry of Vilnius University. He worked in the Physical Chemistry department ruled by prof. J. Matulis.
Zirnauskas created an original electrochemical lab containing the electronic equipment. He lectured the two disciplines: the chemistry of colloids and electrochemistry. Till the spring of 1952 while working at this place Zirnauskas has prepared and defended his PhD thesis. At the same time he collected a group of students interested in science and active in electrochemical research. On Sundays they worked in the lab and after discussed their results. It was a kind of "mini-conference" – discussion at the tea-table with tea boiled in the lab and snacks. At first, the students were a little bit shy but soon they got used to the calm and respectful Zirnauskas' speaking manner, were surprised by his knowledge of the world literature, liked his sense of humor and chemical anecdotes that he told.
Prof. J. Matulis left his working place and went to Academy of Sciences. The Department of Physical chemistry (as the total Faculty) became involved in politics. Zirnauskas was devoted to the science and avoided politics. He was fired in 1952 with the accusation of "communicating with abroad". He received a parcel and exchanged letters with his sisters living in Israel. They were his only alive relatives. All his family was killed in Holocaust. Especially he missed his elder brother, a physicist, who has studied in Kaunas Vytautas Magnus University and after he taught in gymnasium in Ukmerge.
From September 1952 Zirnauskas started to work in LVA (Lithuanian Vet Academy) in the department of Physics and Chemistry. Associated professor Sinkunas was the head of this department. He knew Jokubas Zirnauskas and his perished brother from the time of studies in Vytautas Magnus University.
In 1953 the separate Department of Chemistry was established and Zirnauskas has been elected the head of the Department. He organized the department activities basically – starting from lab tables, general and scientific equipment, partially purchasing it by himself. He created a new lab of general chemistry, lectured the courses of general & inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry as well. Zirnauskas was continuously active in the scientific research, – most of all, in electrochemistry, including electro-analytical chemistry.
Zirnauskas was interested in natural philosophy, used to write popular articles published in the magazines "Znanije-sila"("Knowledge is a Force"), “Priroda” (“Nature”).
He arranged seminars of chemistry and literature readings once a week in the Department he ruled. He knew 7 languages: English, German, French, Yiddish, Russian, Polish, and Lithuanian. He usually corrected the expressions written by his Lithuanian colleagues in their native language.
Zirnauskas knew the world literature very well. The readings he arranged in the department were carried out in original language of the fiction books. English authors he read were: Setton-Tompson, Bernard Shaw, and Mark Twain. French authors: Anatole France and Beranger. The most successful seminars were these devoted to Goethe's "Faustus". The readings were performed in German, as well as Zirnauskas' comments, and lasted the total studying year.
On the certain week days there were seminars on various subjects of chemistry. The highest Zirnauskas' appreciation of a person was his saying: "It's interesting to discuss chemistry with him". Only few people have earned this characteristic.
As a person, Zirnauskas was a cosmopolite – in the good meaning of the word. He usually admired the beauty of human creations, without any prepossession or prejudgment. At the times, still so close to Holocaust, Zirnauskas used to say that the German language is the most suitable to be the science language.
Every day Zirnauskas attended the Department at 8 A.M. – one hour before the usual working hours. He was always dressed carefully. It's surprising how in these years he could find his time and attention for the clothes.
He spoke always by quiet, not a raised voice, respectfully to any student or colleague.
In the lab Zirnauskas was demanding. He appreciated the students' self-sufficiency and attentive approach to experiments.
It was interesting to work in this department but not easy. The head of department, never allowing himself any weakness or disease, expected the same from the colleagues and not always understood the reality.
LVA authorities sometimes abused him exercising his extreme dutifulness. For example, each summer he has been appointed as the chairman of the accession board. Everybody was on holydays, and Zirnauskas alone did the entire job – the administration, the preparation to the entrance exams and finally he examined.
So, he never left Kaunas for holydays.
Zirnauskas had his own point on the mode of life. He himself used to order and clean his three-room apartment. Each morning he washed one window-glass in turn, therefore all the windows always were clean. Each room contained the bookshelves and a working table. There were sofas in two rooms. The largest and nicest room was arranged for his rescuer priest Stakauskas who went to Kaunas once a week to lecture in the priests' seminary.
Zirnauskas, the excellent expert of the world literature, the person understanding the philosophy of historical windings, had a very poor knowledge about the real life.
He had his own theory about the health-care based on his favourite Moliere. He often citated Moliere, mostly – the "Imaginary invalid".
However, when he felt not good and had to appeal to medicine professionals he did it in the most unacceptable way. He told nothing to anybody from his friends or colleagues, called ambulance and was hospitalized. Unfortunately, he received not proper treatment of his hypertension, due to being alone, without any protection or compassion, having no visitors. After some injection he experienced an immediate stroke. Only then his former co-workers and friends (including several physicians) learned about his hospitalization.
The last week before going to hospital Zirnauskas wrote his testament. He divided his belongings to his friends and co-workers, left the largest financial savings to his rescuers – priest Stakauskas and prof. Zvironas' family.
Zirnauskas died on January 27, 1970 in the "Red Cross" hospital in Kaunas. He is buried in the Kaunas Jewish cemetery in Aleksotas.
References:
1. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kulak
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulak
These memoirs have been written on October 24, 2006 (in a hurry) by Zirnauskas' former student in VU and after – his co-worker in LVA Remigija Bukaveckienė.